This ride was exhilarating, but at the same time disappointing. I was excited to ride Storm Runner, because I had never ridden a ride with such an abrupt start. The ride looks intimidating, but once it starts, It's over in 30 seconds flat. This was a major problem with many of the roller coasters at Hersheypark; you get on the ride, go through a couple of great hills and loops, and just when it starts getting really great, it's all over. Luckily, we were visiting the park the first day it opened, so the wait time was only about 10-15 minutes. However, that is the extent of the negatives. In just thirty seconds, they somehow managed to cram in many hills and loops, with my favorite being the A-line twist. The sheer amount of air-time you got on Storm Runner was absolutely amazing, and I would definitely ride it again. Overall, it is one of the best roller coasters Hersheypark has to offer, but would receive 5 stars if it lasted longer.

This is probably one of the best coasters Hershey Park has to offer. It only lasts about 30 seconds but it crams alot of drops and loops in that time. The lines usally go pretty fast considering there is two seperate trains and lines. I certinly enjoyed this coaster the only problem is that its the first ride to close down if it starts raining. I think Its one of the fastest rides at Hershey and I love how from anywhere you are in the park even the parking lot you can see the bright red tracks and yellow cars. This is probably one of my faveorite rides in Hershey and anywhere else. The take off is probably one of the best parts of this coaster I mean 0 to 72mph.... pretty awesome! The first drop is crazy and the second is just as great. The corkscrew and loops were amazing. This is defiently my favorite ride at the park besides the new ride &quot;Skyrush&quot;. This is defiently not a ride that you want to miss so ride STORMRUNNER!!!!!!

During my visits to Hersheypark back in 2005 and 2006, I regrettably could not work up the courage to ride Storm Runner. The height wasn’t a problem at all, as I had already been on Steel Force and Apollo’s Chariot. The launch wasn’t a problem as well since I had already been on the Rock “N” Roller Coaster. Instead Storm Runner’s angle of descent is what scared me. Now that I look back on it, I find my old fear quite embarrassing and silly. Until I finally conquered Dragon’s Descent at Funtown back in 2007, I was too afraid to try any rides with a vertical drop since I figured it would be similar to the drop towers I was also afraid of. Having conquered that fear (heck, I rode Kingda Ka last year), and realized how foolish it was, I finally rode Storm Runner this year and it blew me away.
Located in Pioneer Frontier, Storm Runner’s gigantic top hat, Immelmann, and heartline rolls can be seen from almost any location throughout the park. But I just love both how the coaster looks and fits into Hersheypark. The red paint scheme along with the bright yellow trains just work perfectly in my opinion, and I just love how the ride really takes riders on a tour of Pioneer Frontier. In fact, one of my favorite views of Storm Runner can be seen from the parking lot. If one angles themselves correctly, the two smokestacks of the Hershey chocolate factory line up perfectly under Storm Runner’s top hat, which is a very cool sight.
Despite the fact that Storm Runner is one of Hersheypark’s most popular roller coasters, wait times are usually fairly minimal for it. During my past visit, Storm Runner was often a 10 minute wait for all seats except the front, which was an additional 20 minutes. The perfectly utilized dual loading platform and ride’s incredibly short duration enable the line to move very quickly. Of all the seats, I definitely preferred the front like I usually do on most launch coasters thanks to the wind-in-my-face effect on the launch. Additionally, I have no problem with Intamin’s over-the-shoulder restraints. While they can be a bit rough on my thighs, overall they aren’t super restrictive while remaining incredibly safe.
Once dispatched, Storm Runner slowly approaches the launch track. On the way, an audio recording mimicking a heartbeat plays. Soon, the cable locks onto the car and the recording blasts, “Now get ready. Here we go.” Immediately afterwards, Storm Runner launches riders from 0 to 72 MPH in 2 seconds. While not as powerful as Kingda Ka’s launch in my opinion, Storm Runner’s launch is still incredibly powerful and it pinned me to my seat. In the front, the skin on my face really gets pulled back, enhancing the thrill. Without a doubt, the launch is Storm Runner’s highlight for me thanks to its speed and sheer intensity.
Following the launch, Storm Runner puts its speed to good use. First, Storm Runner treats riders to an incredible top hat. While cresting the top hat, riders towards the front get some incredible floater air. Then the following vertical plunge completely ejects back seat riders. Next, riders experience a thrilling Immelmann. Despite being gigantic in size, the inversion still packs a mean punch unlike some of the larger Immelmanns (cough: Alpengeist: cough) I’ve experienced on B&amp;M coasters.
Storm Runner then zooms up a massive hill, providing a decent pop of air in the front. Following that is a very distorienting heartline roll. Not only does the inversion provide a little bit of hang-time, but it really allows one to realize just how high they are off the ground. Without pausing, Storm Runner then enters its third and final inversion, its legendary flying snake dive. What starts as another heartline roll quickly transforms into a dive loop of sorts midway through. Really it’s a pretty hard inversion to describe since I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. But due to the inversion’s convuluted nature, it is both incredibly disorienting and fairly forceful. Still disoriented from the prior inversion, riders are then treated to Storm Runner’s final element, an oddly banked and elevated trick track of sorts. Prior to riding, I was afraid that this element would produce some undesirable headbanging, but fortunately it is very smooth, and as a result it’s really enjoyable. Following that, Storm Runner storms into the brake run, ending the ride.
Unlike Kingda Ka, which is a true one-trick pony, Storm Runner provides a full ride experience and as a result, I ended up liking it more. While Storm Runner still is incredibly short in duration, the ride is an incredible rush from start to finish thanks to its incredible launch and arsenal of elements. Not only did Storm Runner become my favorite attraction at Hersheypark, but it also became one of my favorite steel coasters anywhere thanks to the combination of a powerful launch, decent air-time, and forceful inversions. A visit to Hersheypark is incomplete for a thrill-seeker without riding Storm Runner several times. Again, make sure to grab the front seat at least once to feel the full power of the launch. But most importantly, don’t make the same mistake I made in waiting a couple of years to ride this incredible attraction.
Favorite Part: Launch
Best Seat: Front (1:1)

A gem of a ride, pity it's so short. The acceleration in the launch is insane and pulls some serious g's I still cannot believe the incredible airtime on that top-hat! Making the complete 180 so high in the air like that further exaggerates this feeling. The rest of the ride is a rush through nearby terrain. The highlight of course is the legendary &quot;flying snake dive,&quot; which is by far the most disorienting inversion I have ever experienced. The ride falls just short of true brilliance for two reasons. First, the restraints, while not terrible, still feel a little tight on the shoulders during the inversions. Second, it's just too short. A drop into the ravine followed by a turnaround would've been enough to push it among the very best out there. Still, this ride is a classic and the setting, sheer thrills, and airtime make it one of my favorites.

This is one og the greatest coasters i've been on. It's only around 20 seconds long but it packs plenty into that small time and gives you the ride of your life on the back of a wild horse. When you first leave the station you hear the soud of the heartbeat over the speakers as you slowly roll out onto the platform to launch. Your seat pulls back as the brakes realease. &quot;Get Ready, Here We Go!&quot; is the last thng you hear before you're launched at 70 mph in under 2 seconds. The fealing is wild as you head toward a 150 ft. Top Hat at top speed. The drop leads you to a Cobra Loop, 2 Barrel Rools, Snake Dive and a twisting hill up to the finish brake slope. Once you do this ride, no matter how scared you were the first time, you'll find yourself doing it agian.

Date Ridden: Summer of 2008. Times Ridden: 1 in the second seat. Here once again is a unique Intamin ride. Storm Runner has a powerful launch, a great Top-Hat, and an intense inversion called a Flying Snake Dive. This thing has to be seen to be believed. However, like so many Intaim rides that have been built recently, the restraint system causes a point to be taken away in my book. Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster are 2 Intamin rides that have received perfect 10&#39...s from me. That is not due to the fact that they are located at Cedar Point but rather due to the simple lap-bar style restraint system they have. However with Kingda Ka and their other looping sit-down coasters, these restraints just cause me to have to fight to be comfortable and that is not what a perfect coaster does. Maverick, Farenheit, and Storm Runner are all very similar to me. They are outstanding rides that could be 10&#39...s if their restraints were a little more comfortable. I still recommend the method I described in my Maverick review of placing the elbows against the back of the car and pushing forward slightly when entering an inversion. However, on Storm Runner, I was not prepared and took two seriously hard shots to the neck going through inversions. I will still give the ride the benefit of the doubt and score is as a 9. I know that with another ride, I would have been prepared and enjoyed the elements much more. Some positives of the ride include the launch, the top hat, and the unique inversions. Just be prepared when you enter them or you will leave with a sore neck. Overall Rating - 9.

Definitely an exciting coaster... just something missing that&#39.s keeping it from that perfect 10 score. It certainly wont be the longest coaster you&#39.ve ever ridden... although part of that can be attributed to its lack of a lift hill. It&#39.s an exciting ride from start to finish, but lacking that one amazing element to elevate it to truly classic status. Definitely worth a couple rides anytime you visit Hershey Park.